The hostage crisis at the In Amenas gasfield in Algeria should sweep away any vestiges of the complacency that let large parts of the Sahel become a lawless haven for extremists.

The killing of Algerian and expatriate workers should not simply be put down to the French intervention in Mali. Nor can it be blamed solely on Libyan dictator Muammer Gaddafis overdue demise, which sent his Tuareg soldiers back to Mali with battle experience, weapons and long-running grievances against the government in Bamako. These events are proximate factors, but the real roots lie deeper.

Islamofascism: The terrorist attack on a vast Algerian gas plant Wednesday shows a resurgent al-Qaida that puts the lie to the Obama administration's claim that the war on terror is all but over. It may in fact be just beginning.

Everything about the al-Qaida "Blood Brigade" attack on the Al Amenas natural gas plant 800 miles east of Algiers  where hundreds of workers, including Americans, were taken hostage in a bloody standoff  suggests an organization growing in strength with a bigger game than just retaliating for the French invasion of Mali.

You'd never know that from our silent White House, which has continually downplayed the new horrors after Benghazi and has yet to call a terrorist a terrorist.

Even so, here are the awful facts:

 Algeria is the "big dog" on the block in the Maghreb, a nonfailed state with a $267 billion economy, 90% of which comes from oil and gas.

Its leadership in the region makes al-Qaida's strike there effectively a strike at the king. The attack shows that al-Qaida has the capacity to attack the strongest regional state to retaliate for Mali. That sends an unambiguous message to the region full of weaker states.

Last October, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought Algeria's help on the terrorist takeover of Mali because it was the strongest state. Now it's a target.

 The natural gas plant attacked was operated by state-owned Sonatrach, Algeria's largest consortium, accounting for 30% of the country's GNP. Its high gas production (9 billion cubic meters a year) is the product of partnerships with the West and Japan based on Algeria's 2005 reforms. Seizing it took unusual planning and preparation, another sign of terrorist strength.

 Mali is important, too  as a source of cash. Al-Qaida in the Maghreb is a well-financed organization that gets its cash from cigarette smuggling and its control of air routes in Mali now being used by drug lords flying in their loads from Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, ever since Chavez cut drug cooperation with the U.S. in 2005, with few repercussions from the U.S.

 The extreme violence in Mali is a sign of al-Qaida strength. It's not just the Shariah-law amputations and beheadings that terrorize the Malians. For years, Mali has been a weak backwater, with one unusual source of excellence, its exquisite music, which is a powerhouse in World Music.

It's also destroying Mali's only other cash cow, its ancient city of Timbuktu, which until recently attracted tourists. These are the cultural actions of terrorists intent on destroying a national identity for the sake of financing a greater war.

This ought to be a major concern, but the Obama administration's impulse has always been to dismiss the war on terror as a relic of Bush administration warmongering, dismissing even the murder of a U.S. ambassador in Libya as the act of an overexcited mob instead of the coldly organized terrorist attack it was.

#4
From March 2001. A seventh-century Buddhist shrine at Tap-e-Sardar, near Ghazni in central Afghanistan, is the latest victim of the Taliban's religious edict that pre-Islamic Afghan culture must be destroyed. Blew them up they did. Destruction is their way.

#6
The Hussien Regime armed Al Qaeda Northern Africa when he destabalized Egypt and Libya with the over throw of Mubarack and Khadafy, replacing them with the radical Muslim Brotherhood.

Al Qaeda is now solidifying there assault on Americans within North their reach in North Africa. The Dictionary book burnings (cannot use certain non PC terms) and the disarmament of Americans domestically is Husseins' continued support of Islamic elements world wide. Impeachment of Hussein is only the first step to be taken or Americans will continue to be hunted down, something I predicted here while many seemed to be passing the popcorn while watching Khadify and his sons being hunted down and butchered in Lybia.

#7
Whoever thought it was a good idea to spend American money fostering radical Sunni Islam should at the very least be in prison, and possibly looking at the electric chair.
How true.The Bush/Saudi connection has caused havoc in the world with Saudi funded Jihadis running around without any fear of the West.

Give the muslims their Sharia Law if they want it and see them wallow in their ignorance/poverty.

Its about time people in the West were self sufficient without the need for middle eastern oil.

The writer is a policeman who was working crowd control as the Hazaras were protesting the murder of 86 of their number by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. This is the second half of his opinion piece. The Hazaras are Asiatic Shias, whom the devout are in the process of trying to kill off.
[Dawn]

Hazaras are being killed like birds in a cage. They cannot run, they cannot hide, they cannot defend themselves. I saw a poster of one of the victims of the Quetta tragedy and remembered this young man Irfan Khudi as a regular participant of civil society demonstrations. I looked at a Hazara child and wondered if he will live to be a man and die a natural death in old age. Or will he become another talkative dead body like the 86 who were speaking non-stop for the past three days, from their coffins placed on Alamdar Road in Quetta? Why are they talking and why won't they let their families bury them? Why was I thinking? I am only required to watch, anticipate, and act, I reminded myself.

Except for a brief encounter with students from a nearby madrassah yesterday, who took offence at anti Lashker-e-Jhangvi slogans, the marathon event had been largely uneventful and sober.

But there was nothing to do. Except for a brief encounter with students from a nearby madrassah yesterday, who took offence at anti Lashker-e-Jhangvi slogans, the marathon event had been largely uneventful and sober. Protesters were sitting on neatly laid rows of darris, listening to speeches from anyone who wished to say something. Occasionally, a speaker from Quetta or an overseas gathering would be heard through phone line. Apparently, similar protests were being held everywhere Pakistanis live. There weren't many Hazaras among the speakers though.

They sat motionless, or served the protesters food and tea with a hospitable smile, and spoke shyly and politely; too politely for a people being hounded relentlessly and murdered systematically.

They sat motionless, or served the protesters food and tea with a hospitable smile, and spoke shyly and politely; too politely for a people being hounded relentlessly and murdered systematically. It must be the reticence and compulsive politeness of the whole community that was infuriating the dead. Their decomposing bodies were yelling for the living Hazaras to speak up for their right to live. The effort pushed the remaining blood in their bodies to spill out of their pores, and the family mourners had to change their white cotton shrouds every few hours.

I thought of my village in Potohar and tried to imagine the reaction of people there if a 100 of them were murdered in one day. There will be mayhem. At least 200 of our enemies will have to pay a price with their blood. If we can't punish them ourselves we'll push the police, army, courts, and governments to do that. If that fails men will sell their fields and women their jewellery to buy weapons or hire a terrorist gang, but we will be avenged. And here, are these Hazaras who've lost close to a thousand people in a year and are being so apologetic for having to block a road, for protesters spending a freezing cold night under the sky, for not providing children and women with warm and comfortable bedding ... 'Oh poor Hazaras, poor poor Hazaras' cried the dead and choked on their own words.

No one cares for the Hazara, someone said in a small group of protesters standing close to me, having a smoking break. Others joined in:

"The chief minister is still abroad."

As if he could be of any help if he was here. The last time Hazaras were killed he said that all he can do is send them a truckload of tissue rolls to wipe their tears.

The prime minister says he'll meet with Hazara community leaders in a week's time and will listen to their demands.

Forget the governments, even the media does not care. Tomorrow's long march is more important for them.

Suddenly, the Alamdar dead's voice rose as one and addressed me directly. I could hear it clearly. It said what started with the Ahmadis is not going to end with the Shias. When all Shias are killed or forced out of Pakistan, or tamed into submission, then what? Who is next? It could be you, or your sons and daughters.

The BBC Urdu Service says the most popular story on its website is about adult filmmakers in Hollywood challenging the legislation that requires actors to use condoms.

Suddenly, the Alamdar dead's voice rose as one and addressed me directly. I could hear it clearly. It said what started with the Ahmadis is not going to end with the Shias. When all Shias are killed or forced out of Pakistan, or tamed into submission, then what? Who is next? It could be you, or your sons and daughters. If you want to live, you'll have to speak up for the right of others to live. Sit down with these protesters or run away from this country as fast as you can.

And that was when it happened. I never mix work with emotions. I always control crowds and never become part of one. And I never, ever listen to the dead ... I took off my service beret, wrapped a chador around my uniform and name plate, and sat down on the darri among my own.

#1
To summarize: Woe, woe is the Left of Israel, for the Jews have left it behind! And the Palestinians will suffer the consequences of having chosen not to make peace when the Jews were willing to do so.

#2
Not all cultures are equal. Some are children that seem unable to govern themselves without starting fights all the time. Not sure what the answer is but democray doesn't seem to work when the population is uneducated and easily manipulated. Perhaps Monarchy because that at least as the stamp of credibility compared to a vanilla flavored dictator.

#3
Islam is a religion and political system for slaves (and perverts). Democracy may not be the best way to go in the ME, but Islam is definitely the other extreme. Maybe a nice constitutional monarchy or something.

A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.